Is there a consistently fabulous restaurant in Boston?
Jul 25th, 2001, 04:27 AM
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Is there a consistently fabulous restaurant in Boston?
I started with Zagat, then read dozens and dozens of reviews on Citysearch and Digital City Boston. Reviews are wildly mixed for each and every top restaurant. And, the people writing them do not sound like nuts. What's the story? We're going to Boston for the weekend and would appreciate recommendations for terrific dining experiences. Any cuisine, any neighborhood, price (except outrageous) not important. We'd just like to experience some wonderful dining in Boston. Any ideas?
Jul 25th, 2001, 05:30 AM
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I live in Boston, and find these restaurants to be consistently good:
Hamersley's Bistro - on Tremont Street in the South End. Upscale French. Very lovely. On the pricey side, but well worth it. Check the menu here to see prices: http://www.hamersleysbistro.com/ I checked out the reviews you mentioned, and you may encounter a snobby hostess, but the wait staff is extremely professional.
Aquitaine - on Tremont Street as well. French again. The chef, Seth Woods, is always there and food has been very consistent over the past 3-4 years I've been a dining regular there: http://www.aquitaineboston.com/ Very good value for food and service.
Claremont Cafe on Columbus is American food. Small menu, but cosy and fun. http://www.claremontcafe.com/
All three places can be on the loud side, but all are good. I've never had bad service at any of them...and you would be dining with mostly locals - well, maybe not at Hamersleys. All need reservations, so call now!
Ones that I have had poor experiences at (so poor I'll never go back) are:
Rialto in Cambridge
Mistral
Skip Legal Seafood for seafood. If you want seafood, try Grillfish (not Boston-y, more trendy, but good food at good prices), McCormick and Schmicks (chain, but so is Legals!), Skipjacks.
If you'd like my opinion on any other restaurants you were thinking about, I'd be happy to help if I can. Enjoy!
Hamersley's Bistro - on Tremont Street in the South End. Upscale French. Very lovely. On the pricey side, but well worth it. Check the menu here to see prices: http://www.hamersleysbistro.com/ I checked out the reviews you mentioned, and you may encounter a snobby hostess, but the wait staff is extremely professional.
Aquitaine - on Tremont Street as well. French again. The chef, Seth Woods, is always there and food has been very consistent over the past 3-4 years I've been a dining regular there: http://www.aquitaineboston.com/ Very good value for food and service.
Claremont Cafe on Columbus is American food. Small menu, but cosy and fun. http://www.claremontcafe.com/
All three places can be on the loud side, but all are good. I've never had bad service at any of them...and you would be dining with mostly locals - well, maybe not at Hamersleys. All need reservations, so call now!
Ones that I have had poor experiences at (so poor I'll never go back) are:
Rialto in Cambridge
Mistral
Skip Legal Seafood for seafood. If you want seafood, try Grillfish (not Boston-y, more trendy, but good food at good prices), McCormick and Schmicks (chain, but so is Legals!), Skipjacks.
If you'd like my opinion on any other restaurants you were thinking about, I'd be happy to help if I can. Enjoy!
Jul 25th, 2001, 05:47 AM
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I disagree with Jen.
We love Legals and go almost once a week. It is a chain but has oustandingly prepared seafoods. Not the "fried" greasy types.
Our other favorite is Elephant Walk. There are 2: one in Brookline and one in Cambridge at Porter Square.
There are many, many good to great places to eat in Boston with ethnic as well as American styles. Also all price ranges.
Be advised many Boston restaurants do not take reservations and waits can be long for the more popular places. Have a drink at the bar and enjoy people watching.
We love Legals and go almost once a week. It is a chain but has oustandingly prepared seafoods. Not the "fried" greasy types.
Our other favorite is Elephant Walk. There are 2: one in Brookline and one in Cambridge at Porter Square.
There are many, many good to great places to eat in Boston with ethnic as well as American styles. Also all price ranges.
Be advised many Boston restaurants do not take reservations and waits can be long for the more popular places. Have a drink at the bar and enjoy people watching.
Jul 25th, 2001, 06:21 AM
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all the above suggestions are correct. The thing I like about McCormick's is that you have a choice of at least a half dozen different oysters. Legal has only one.Henrietta's Table at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge is another good choice. Brasserie Jo for a great fruit de mer plateau. Dali's for spanish
Jul 25th, 2001, 06:25 AM
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In response to John, I don't like Legal's because:
1. They don't take reservations and waits are long.
2. I've eaten at the Burlington, Natick, and Pru locations, and service was hasty and rushed at each experience.
3. The value isn't there for me. Everything is a la carte on the menus.
It's good food, but the overall experience isn't 'fabulous' to me. Actually, I find that the seafood places in Boston are sometimes disappointing, but out-of-towners usually like to go, so I mentioned a couple.
1. They don't take reservations and waits are long.
2. I've eaten at the Burlington, Natick, and Pru locations, and service was hasty and rushed at each experience.
3. The value isn't there for me. Everything is a la carte on the menus.
It's good food, but the overall experience isn't 'fabulous' to me. Actually, I find that the seafood places in Boston are sometimes disappointing, but out-of-towners usually like to go, so I mentioned a couple.
Jul 25th, 2001, 06:48 AM
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My husband is from Boston and we visit frequently. The best Boston and Italian experience (at least in the US) all in one can be found in the north end. There are many great Italian restaurants to choose from. Some that I've liked are:
MAURIZIO'S
364 Hanover St. (Clark St.) (617) 367-1123
MAMMA MARIA 3 North Sq. (bet. Little Prince & North Sts.) (617) 523-0077
Euno 119 Salem St. (Cooper St.) (617) 573-9406
Giacomo's 355 Hanover St. (bet. Fleet & Prince Sts (617) 523-9026
For dessert, go to Mike's Pastry and try a lobster tail. Yes, this is a dessert. It looks like a lobster tail and it's very good.
MAURIZIO'S
364 Hanover St. (Clark St.) (617) 367-1123
MAMMA MARIA 3 North Sq. (bet. Little Prince & North Sts.) (617) 523-0077
Euno 119 Salem St. (Cooper St.) (617) 573-9406
Giacomo's 355 Hanover St. (bet. Fleet & Prince Sts (617) 523-9026
For dessert, go to Mike's Pastry and try a lobster tail. Yes, this is a dessert. It looks like a lobster tail and it's very good.
Apr 20th, 2005, 11:13 AM
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Just returned from Boston and will bump this thread with some recommendations: in the North End, Euno and Assagio. Frankly, we haven't had a bad meal in the North End yet, but both of the above offered wonderful food, a reasonable price and good service.
In Cambridge, Rialto (our experience was wonderful, in contrast to Jen's), which is more expensive, but still not outrageous.
Legal Sea Foods certainly is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. The Daily Catch on Hanover St. in the North End was an interesting seafood experience. Very nicely prepared, but don't expect anything fancy, and credit cards are NOT accepted.
In Cambridge, Rialto (our experience was wonderful, in contrast to Jen's), which is more expensive, but still not outrageous.
Legal Sea Foods certainly is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. The Daily Catch on Hanover St. in the North End was an interesting seafood experience. Very nicely prepared, but don't expect anything fancy, and credit cards are NOT accepted.
Apr 20th, 2005, 11:20 AM
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Giacomo's is excellent for seafood and pasta.
Check www.phantomgourmet.com. You can search by rating. Not everyone agrees with the Phantom but it's a good resource.
mm
Check www.phantomgourmet.com. You can search by rating. Not everyone agrees with the Phantom but it's a good resource.
mm
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:10 PM
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going to boston (back bay) for the first time this summer. don't think i'll go to legal seafood. for everyone who says it is good, someone else says it's only ok or poor for the cost. it sure does come up a lot though.
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:13 PM
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The ones I liked on my last trip:
-- Tapeo
-- Skipjack
-- Antico Forno (North End)
I've done Legal a few times in my life, and it's fine but pricey for what you get. It's not like good seafood eateries are rare in New England....
-- Tapeo
-- Skipjack
-- Antico Forno (North End)
I've done Legal a few times in my life, and it's fine but pricey for what you get. It's not like good seafood eateries are rare in New England....
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:14 PM
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Hi AllisPrq,
What made you think you'd get any more consistant reviews from us Fodorites, than from Zagat's and Digital City? I think the reason this happens is because a tourist may go to a restaurant once, and may have a randomly bad experience at a great place. And someone who had a bad experience, especially at a pricey place is more likely to post a review, here or on boston.com, or tripadvisor, or anyplace else. surely this doesn't only happen with Boston?
that said, I'm going to go ahead and add my opinions to what everybody else has said. For what its worth, I'm a local.
Hammersley's is a great suggestion by Jen. It's been around for a long time, and has gotten consistantly good reviews. I ate there just recently and it was terrific.
Another place I liked a lot, that I went to recently is Via Matta. It's Italian, and owned by Boston's hottest restaraunters (Chris Myers and Michael Schlow, who are most well know for the very upscale Radius). I found the food here excellent and the service very attentive. The other Myers-Schlow restaurant is Great Bay in the Commonwealth Hotel, Kenmore square near Fenway Park. That's my new favorite upscale seafood place.
I've never understood the ultra-high ratings for Rialto. I've been there twice and been seriously underwhelmed. I know at least 3 other people who feel the same way. I just don't quite get it. If you're in Harvard Square consider Harvest, Upstairs at the Square, or Sandrine's.
What made you think you'd get any more consistant reviews from us Fodorites, than from Zagat's and Digital City? I think the reason this happens is because a tourist may go to a restaurant once, and may have a randomly bad experience at a great place. And someone who had a bad experience, especially at a pricey place is more likely to post a review, here or on boston.com, or tripadvisor, or anyplace else. surely this doesn't only happen with Boston?
that said, I'm going to go ahead and add my opinions to what everybody else has said. For what its worth, I'm a local.
Hammersley's is a great suggestion by Jen. It's been around for a long time, and has gotten consistantly good reviews. I ate there just recently and it was terrific.
Another place I liked a lot, that I went to recently is Via Matta. It's Italian, and owned by Boston's hottest restaraunters (Chris Myers and Michael Schlow, who are most well know for the very upscale Radius). I found the food here excellent and the service very attentive. The other Myers-Schlow restaurant is Great Bay in the Commonwealth Hotel, Kenmore square near Fenway Park. That's my new favorite upscale seafood place.
I've never understood the ultra-high ratings for Rialto. I've been there twice and been seriously underwhelmed. I know at least 3 other people who feel the same way. I just don't quite get it. If you're in Harvard Square consider Harvest, Upstairs at the Square, or Sandrine's.
Apr 21st, 2005, 07:22 AM
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I've been to the Elephant Walk several times over the past 3-4 years and it is consistently fantastic.
www.elephantwalk.com
"award winning French & Cambodian cuisine"
www.elephantwalk.com
"award winning French & Cambodian cuisine"
Apr 21st, 2005, 10:55 AM
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We love Assagio. Also Abe & Louie's and Aquitane (both for Sat/Sun brunch as well).
For seafood (and we are Legal fans), our new favorite is Atlantic Fish on Boylston.
I would guess the reviews vary wildly because the experiences are so mixed. We've been hugely underwhelmed at many of the allegedly top places in Boston. One problem is service. Another is that most are very, very loud when busy, which surely diminishes the overall experience.
For seafood (and we are Legal fans), our new favorite is Atlantic Fish on Boylston.
I would guess the reviews vary wildly because the experiences are so mixed. We've been hugely underwhelmed at many of the allegedly top places in Boston. One problem is service. Another is that most are very, very loud when busy, which surely diminishes the overall experience.
Apr 21st, 2005, 11:05 AM
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Don't mean to highjack this thread. But I'm wondering whether someone might be able to answer a question for me. Sometime in the past 3 or 4 months, I read a thread about a seafood restaurant in Boston that I think was described as fairly casual and, I think, had a couple of locations, one of which was in Cambridge. The only thing I really remember was a description of seafood being brought to the table in a mesh bag. Unfortunately, I can't remember whether I read it here, on Frommer's or on TripAdvisor. I've searched all three to no avail. Does anyone have a clue what restaurant I might be talking about? Or did I dream the whole thing?!!
